Friday, June 12, 2015

As a note, an e-galley of this novel was sent to me via NetGalley by the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not effect my opinions in any way.

It’s been near a decade, now, since I’ve been reading Melissa de la Cruz and her books and it’s safe to say I’ve always been a massive fan. Back in high school, two of her book series were amongst my favorites on my shelf: The Au-Pairs and Blue Bloods. Almost all of her books have the same fast pace and snarky attitude to it that makes it a breeze to read and enjoy.

Until I saw Vampires of Manhattan on Net Galley I hadn’t the slightest idea that she had made a Blue Bloods spin off/sequel series targeted at adults instead of teens. I couldn’t believe that I hadn’t heard considering I’ve been pretty present in the book community and this is one of my all time favorite supernatural series. Alas, I’ve clearly been living under a rock – it has been nearly a year since its release, after all!

I felt like a horrible fan however, I was PUMPED to get my hands on a copy of this little gem and more than ready to dive back into this world of vampires, luxury and the supernatural. I feel as though I should have perhaps had a refresher; reread the original series beforehand but it was surprisingly easy to jump back into this world.

Vampires of Manhattan is fun, sexy, chilling, mysterious and sparkles in the right ways. As always, Melissa mixes up genres in a way that is appealing to the audience. It was great to catch up with some of the characters from the original series and because of my attachment to them, it made this novel all the more delightful to devour. I finished it in under a day, which isn’t the fastest for me but when you consider how much else I’ve done in that day it’s rather surprising I finished it that quick!

It hasn't been that long since the finale of the series, but quite some time has passed off page! Melissa continues the story with an intriguing, mysterious edge to it that shows the change in the returning characters as they move through their adult years and continue to live their immortal lives past the war from the original series. Readers don’t have to be too familiar with the Blue Bloods series because this addition to that world is easy to follow and will attract new fans in its own right.

Vampires of Manhattan is a wonderful and mature addition to the Blue Bloods world and sparks with readers because many of us who were massive fans of the series during its original run are well into our adult years as well. In a way, it reminds us that we’ve grown up with these characters and thrusts us back into their lives as if no time has really and truly past.

It’s full of surprise and questions and is a thoroughly engaging read. Melissa de la Cruz has done it again, my friends, and continues to draw me into her delicious writing and supernatural worlds. Vampires of Manhattan is a fresh take on a world we’d already seen from her and certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s cool, it’s edgy, it’s horrifying and thrilling – your heart may find itself broken from time to time as you wonder what could possibly happen next.

And what sort of outcome it has in store for our beloved characters. What has happened in the years since the war? What has changed? As I said already, old characters are certainly present in this new addition to the series and readers can look forward to the return of many others by the final pages.

Vampires of Manhattan is told within various points of view, but mostly through the eyes of the following characters: Oliver, Mimi and Ara take us on a walk through their eyes and although it may be frustrating to rotate narrators each voice is unique and adds a good atmosphere to the story Melissa is telling us.

Another thing readers can expect is a massive cliffhanger and many questions by the final pages.

Described as the product of if Twilight and Gossip Girl had a baby, there is no better way to refer to it. In my days reading Blue Bloods during its original run, what attracted me of it was the mythology, the mystery, the luxury and scandal that drips from the plot. As soon as someone compared it to Twilight and Gossip Girl, I jumped into a bookstore to find a copy. I'm not kidding, I practically ran to Barnes and Noble. I was heavy into House of Night and Twilight and Gossip Girl at the time and wandered into the land of Blue Bloods easily. Fans of each of those series should find themselves right at home while reading Melissa de la Cruz’s delicious work.

I had to admit, because I loved the original series so much I had my reservations about more installments. I was very torn because part of me wanted it to have ended where it did but the other part of me was beyond thrilled to check in with characters like Mimi and Oliver after years have passed with the hopes of more twists and turns and blood and romance. Vampires of Manhattan is like visiting an old friend and there’s nothing better than that flood of emotions.

While it was a pleasant read, one that I can see myself picking up more than once, I did miss the quality the original series had.

Perhaps it was the changes to Oliver, perhaps it is just a sign that I am growing lazy in keeping up with familiar tales – but there was something [minor] missing. It wasn’t a massive miss because believe me, I enjoyed this story far more than I expected to and fully intend to follow it in later installments. It was just something of a nagging feeling that needed more from it.

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BOOKED J is part literary part lifestyle blog featuring book reviews, discussions, hauls and photography, with an occasional sprinkle of personal writing tossed in for good measure. Now accepting blog tours and release week blitz.

Created in the spring of 2007 by Jessica, now a twenty-something year old singer and avid reader from the Chicago area, who has no actual idea what she is doing. I love a variety of genres but I've been known to adore YA, NA, poetry and fantasy the most.

“We're alive. We have words and shapes and ideas. We will throw them at you when you do not believe. We will throw our love and our hate and our failure and success. We'll split in two right in front of you and be our best and our worst. We'll lie and tell the truth.” —A.S. King

★★★★★: I would marry this book. ★★★★☆: Great! Loved it, would gladly read again despite any flaws. ★★★☆☆: A good read! The flaws begin to shift my balance and I may or may not read it again. ★★☆☆☆: Not my cup of tea. The book wasn't "I need to light myself on fire" levels of bad but I definitely won't be gathering around the fireplace with it.★☆☆☆☆: No.Or DNF.

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